Strictly Head Judge Shirley Ballas opened a special ‘Urban Foraging Station’ at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital today after it was showcased at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Fully funded by ‘Project Giving Back’, the garden is the creation of Hugh and Howard Miller and has been designed to support children’s mental and physical health by encouraging engagement with nature through foraging, sharing healthy food, play and relaxing.
The NHS’s 5 steps to mental wellbeing – connecting with people, being physically active, learning new skills, giving to others and mindfulness - have all been integrated into the garden’s design.The garden won a Silver Gilt Award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May and will now have a permanent home in front of Alder Hey’s new mental health inpatient Unit ‘Sunflower House’ which will open its doors this Autumn.
Shirley has supported Alder Hey Children’s Charity for many years and is the Appeal Ambassador for our 7in10 Children's Mental Health Appeal, bringing attention to the fact that 7 out of 10 children and young people who experience a mental health condition in the UK do not get appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age. This new Unit will enable more children to access the treatment they need at the time they need it.
The garden be a huge benefit to patients, families, staff, volunteers and the wider community.
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